Queen Celebrates 15 Years of WOW - Women of the World at Buckingham Palace Reception
Her Majesty hosted a special gathering to mark the milestone anniversary of the global gender equality movement founded by Jude Kelly
The Queen welcomed guests to Buckingham Palace yesterday to celebrate the 15th anniversary of WOW - Women of the World, the global movement working toward gender equality.
In her role as President of the organization, a position she has held since 2015, Her Majesty delivered a heartfelt speech reflecting on WOW's remarkable journey from its inception to becoming a powerful international platform for women's voices and leadership.
"A few months before the first Festival, in 2010, I hosted my first WOW meeting, for the six members of the steering committee, at Clarence House," the Queen recalled. Looking back at her notes from that initial gathering, she shared that the founders had described their vision for "a pioneering and groundbreaking platform" for women in cultural, environmental, educational, political and economic leadership.
"In a simplified form," Her Majesty added with a touch of humor, "I should have noted, 'a pioneering and groundbreaking platform for women who refuse to take 'no' for an answer'."
Since its founding 15 years ago by Jude Kelly, WOW has expanded dramatically, holding 150 events and festivals across 71 locations worldwide. In the past year alone, the organization has reached over 1.2 million people globally.
The Queen praised Kelly as "indomitable" and noted that "any list of women who won't accept a negative response must include" the founder, whose "strength, ingenuity and passionate determination are an inspiration to us all."
In her address, Her Majesty highlighted several remarkable women she has met through her involvement with WOW, including journalist Yalda Hakim, who has raised awareness about women in Afghanistan; Paris Thompson, an advocate for the deaf community; Special Constable Penny Lancaster; and Laura Bates, founder of Everyday Sexism.
The Queen has been a visible supporter of WOW's mission, attending events across the globe including in Jordan, Gambia, Ghana, the United States, New Zealand, Australia and Rwanda. She described hosting the annual WOW reception at the Palace each March, around International Women's Day, as "a very special fixture" in her diary.
Looking toward the future, Her Majesty acknowledged the significant challenges that remain in achieving gender equality. She cited sobering statistics that at current rates, it would take 286 years to remove discriminatory laws globally, 140 years for women to hold half of leadership positions in workplaces, and 47 years to achieve equal representation in national parliaments.
Despite these daunting figures, the Queen expressed optimism, saying she was "filled with confidence" that by following in the footsteps of "these amazing women and girls who will not take 'no' for an answer," progress could be accelerated.
The reception at Buckingham Palace brought together activists, artists, businesswomen and community leaders connected to WOW's extensive network, reinforcing the organization's continued importance in advocating for women's rights and gender equality worldwide.
Her Majesty concluded her speech with a call to action for the "WOW family" to continue their vital work, expressing hope that together, they could forge a gender-equal world in "a much shorter time" than current projections suggest.
